Saint Trea

Trea (5th century) was an Irish hermit and Catholic saint, commemorated on August 3. Saint Trea (Old Irish: Trea), daughter of Cairthenn, King of Dál nAraidi, was an Irish hermit who converted to Christianity through the prayers of Saint Patrick. According to the legend recounted in the Tripartite Life of Saint Patrick, Trea was blessed by Saint Patrick while still in the womb of her mother, Mogan. Renouncing worldly life, Saint Trea spent her final days as a recluse in Ard Trea, modern-day Ardtrea, County Derry, Ireland. Saint Patrick blessed the veil on her head, just as he had foretold. Angels then brought a veil from heaven and placed it upon her head so that it fell down over her eyes. When Patrick began to lift the veil, Trea asked, "Why should it not remain as it was placed?" "Very well," said Patrick. From that time on, she saw nothing in her life except what she could see through that veil. The veneration of Saint Trea, daughter of Cairthenn, on August 3 is mentioned in the Martyrology of Tallaght, the Martyrology of Oengus, and the Martyrology of Donegal. The Martyrology of Oengus describes her as "silently fair" (Old Irish: tó-bán); it is possible that she not only wore a veil over her face but also took a vow of silence. In the parish of Ardtrea, there is a Saint Trea’s chapel and a Saint Trea’s primary school for children from Catholic families.